[Mr Ramsbotham]

Let me add this one thing: do you notice how, when speaking of the goods and services that are produced in this country, people on this very site speak of those things as if they were communal property, to be disposed of and manipulated by the State for whatever purposes they, in their wisdom, see fit? That’s how far American conservatism has come since the days of Reagan.

[nathanbedford]

I think it is important to try to compare apples to apples when comparing standards of living of two countries. But that is extremely difficult, however, Wikipedia tries here Standard of living in the United States And by some measures standards are better in Europe. For example, I have one son attending law school in Europe, cost free. I have one son attending university in Europe, cost free. I have another son attending university in America which costs about $60,000 a year.

When I get the benefits of socialism I like it but when I have to pay for other people's benefits I don't like it so much. So I take your point, how much respect do we want to have for property which many of us equate with liberty and how much value do we want to put on "community" or the idea that property is something "we didn't build" and therefore up for grabs and distribution?

I'm a conservative so I put very high value on property and liberty. But we need to do more than merely pay lip service to it. There is more to the value of property than owning a pickup truck with a Confederate flag in the back window and a gun rack while existing on food stamps.

There has to be an open avenue of opportunity which vindicates the American dream of working hard and making your way up. That presumes an honest government, a true rule of law, reward based on merit and real opportunity.

It does not, as you point out, imply a claim on my neighbor's property.